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Poll - EJ20 vs EJ22

Hey guys, havnt posted here in a while but ive been reading around. Anyways my Legacy needs a new engine. The EJ18 in it has developed some wicked noisy lifters and is squirting oil out of more holes than i can count.

I could fix all the problems with it, but it really is cheaper and more fun to slam a new motor into the car. I have 2 engines available and i dont know which one to stick in. Both are the same value and both are about the same on fuel economy. Parts for both are also readily available here.

I'd go with the EJ22, especially if if comes with a dual range tranny. The EJ22 has more torque, which I think you will feel more than the Hp advantage that the EJ20 has. And if your moving a legacy, you need torque.

Lol new zealands still down here by Australia. And sorry to rain on the parade but - My EJ18 threw a rod at 3000rpm crusing home this afternoon.

Oil light started flickering and rather than be stuck on a back road with no way of calling for help i soldiered on to the main highway. Just after hitting state highway 2, the number 4 con rod made a dramatic dash for freedom.

I drove another mile with smoke, oil and coolant spraying everywhere to the nearest gas station then called a mate to tow me home.

Lesson learned : If your lifters are making noise, and theres plenty of oil in your engine - chances are the oil pump is about to go.

Going to look at buying a new car tomorrow. This legacy was awesome fun but for the price of a new used engine i can pick up some new wheels to get me to work next week.

Off to pick up a Holden Calibra today, this will be my new daily driver. I havnt decided the Subarus fate yet... Anyhoo heres a carnage pic 'cos i know you guys love em. The engine will probably be stripped so i can figure out what killed it. Im assuming boxers arent supposed to throw rods at 3000rpm

I'd throw the EJ22 in. It's really an easy engine to replace, the hardest part is getting the bellhousing to slide apart if the dowel pins have corrosion on them. Throw some oil down the sparkplug holes of the replacement engine, and use a ratchet to turn it over a few times.

Set aside a weekend and an engine lift and you'll have the legacy back on the road no problem.

We did get the EJ20 here in America in the 02-05 WRX. The EJ205 specifically.

His is not an EJ205 though. I believe the EJ20 he's looking at is an EJ204, a high-output nonturbo engine. I believe. Could be wrong about the code. Regardless, with the HP ratings he posted, it's definitely a nonturbo engine.

In the finest tradition of motorhead neanderthals I would recommend going for the higher displacement engine:grin: Of course I know beans about the compatibility issues for your Legacy so I defer to the experts on this board.

The 2.0 that came with the 2002 WRX was a World Rally Championship displacement requirement (maximum allowed). Note how quickly Subaru switched to a 2.5 WRX. I love my 2.0 WRX but it's a boat anchor under 2,000 rpm:mad:

My 2.2 Legacy is positively torquey at low rpm's compared to my 2.0 WRX. O.K. I know the 2.0 WRX is a low compression engine (for the Turbo) but I think you'll appreciate the low-end torque a lot more in normal everyday driving than the horsepower at the top end in a Legacy.

The unknown history of the 2.2 is worrisome but they are good engines and can take a thrashing:rolleyes:

Now, a moment of silence for your valiant Subie engine that gave its all to get you home...

Many Thanks to the awesome team at USMB. This board has helped me fix heaps of problems with my Subaru, it truly is an awesome resource. Anyways i was offered a new car for an almost unbeleivable price so i took it.

Me legacy was a great car to thrash around in, but it just wasnt worth the hassle of repairing again, so i have passed it on to a new owner who will hopefully ressurect it.

Anyways the legacy has been replaced with an Opel/Holden/Vauxhall. So its time for me to start learning to speak GM.

Thanks for all your help with this post guys, ill be back when a nice EA series coupe shows up lol. Im going to kick around www.clubcalibra.com for a while and learn about this thing.